Roller skate light magneto



April 25, 1950 L. E. SMITH 2,505,154

ROLLER SKATE LIGHT MAGNETO Filed Dec. 10, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l L fava/a0 E. SMI TH J8 Inw/ztor Attorney April 25, 1950 l.. E. SMITH ROLLER SKATE LIGHT MAGNETO 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed D80. 10, 1948 Attorney Patented Apr. 25, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE ROLLER SKATE LIGHT MAGNETO Leonard E. Smith, Wesleyville, Pa.

Application December 10, 1948, Serial No. 64,619

7 Claims. (Cl. 315-78) This invention relat-es generally to magnetos and more particularly to a magneto having a stator and rotor which are especially adapted for mounting onto the truck and a wheel respectively of a roller skate, whereby one or more lights attached to either one or both of the skates and/or to the body of an exhibitionist skater may be energized from the magneto, thereby to add ornamention to, and otherwise further enhance the esthetic quality of the skaters perfomance substantially without interfering either with his movements or with the normal operation of the roller skates.

According to the construction and arrangement of the magneto of the present invention, the stator comprises an E-shaped core having a coil mounted on the .center leg thereof, and the core together with a housing therefor are shaped about and rigidly secured to a truck of the skate, with the legs of the core rigidly secured to a truck of the skate, with the legs of the core extending parallel to the axle of the truck and without causing engagement of the stator, either with the wheels carried by the truck or with the surface upon which the wheels are caused to roll.

The rotor comprises a plurality of permanent magnets which are arranged with poles of magnetic polarity alternating in equi-spaced circumferentially larranged slots, provided therefor in the one of the wheels adjacent the ends of the core legs, the number of magnets employed and the spacing therebetween being such that three of the magnets always move opposite the legs of the core as the wheel rotates, and the magnets also being positioned in the slots to provide an optimism air gap with respect to the ends of the core legs without causing physical engagement therewith, and the magnets further being secured on the other ends thereof to a magnetic circuit closing washer, whereby the reluctance of the magnetic circuit comprising the core, magneto and washer is reduced to a low value and the energy output of the magneto is rendered sufficiently great to brightly light several lamps energized therefrom when the skater is moving only at a moderate speed.

An object of the present invention therefore is to provide a magneto, which may be mounted on a roller skate and operated by one of the wheels hereof to light one or more lamps carried either on the skates or skater, without interfering either with the movement of the skater or with the operation of the roller skates.

Still other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are those relating novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will become more clearly apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings where- Figure 1 is a plan view of the underside of the rear portion of a roller skate having the magneto of the present invention mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the roller skate shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the left rear wheel of Figure 2 as viewed along the line 3-3 thereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the skate of Figure 2, taken along the line 4-4 thereof.

Figure 5 is a sectional view as seen along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the stator.

Figure 7 is a View in perspective of the stator core and coil assembly.

Figure 8 is a view in perspective of the stator mounting bracket.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the lamp mounting bracket, and

Figure 10 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one of the mounting arrangements for one of the coil terminals.

Referring now to the drawings for a more complete understanding of the invention, the numeral I0 designates ya shoe to which one foot plate II is secured as by the screws I2. The truck support base member I3 is secured as by rivets I4 to the foot plate and comprises the main truck support I5, which carries the truck pivot bolt I6, and the socket I1.

The main truck supports I5, of both the front and rear trucks, are braced to the foot plate as by the elongated strip I8, which is riveted as at I9 to the foot plate and to a link member 2U, which is riveted as by rivets I4 to the front and rear base members I3, the extremities of strip I8 being secured to the main truck supports I5 as by the nuts 2l. It will be understood that the front and rear trucks and the supports therefor are identical.

A cushion 22 is sleeved on pivot bolt I8 and interposed thereon between retainer cup 23 and retainer cup 24, which forms an integral part of the truck axle housing 25. The axle housing also has formed as an integral part thereof the supporting bracket 2B, which is secured at its free end for limited movement in the socket I'I of base member I3. The axle 21 is secured in position in to the the axle housing 25, as by the nuts 28, and carries the ball bearing mounted maple or fiber wheels 29.

The aforedescribed professional type of roller skate is particularly well suited, though not exclusively limited, for use with the skate light magneto presently to be described.

The stator of the magneto is generally designated by the numeral 30 and comprises a core which isbuilt up of 'a stack of E-shaped laminae 3l, the stackedlaminae being formed arcuately whereby the legs of the E-shaped core are concentrically disposed with respect to the wheel axis of the skate when the stator. 3-is mounted thereon.

A coil 32 having a predetermined number of' turns and size of wire according to the desired energy capacity of the magneto is mountedon the center leg of the E-shaped core and serves to maintain the laminae 3| in assembled condition. f

The core and coil assembly is mounted in a housing comprising the arcuately formed nonmagnetic pieces 33,- 34l andl end piece 35 are formed of any suitable material each, for example,- as copper and which are secured together as by-soldering toform a; unitary casing, which conforms tov theconguration of the truck, as maybest be seen'inFigureil, whereby the stator` is rendered compact andi takes up a relatively small amount of` space beneath the truck.

The core and coil assembly is preferably retained in the desired position in the casing. therefor.` as by` being potted therein by any suitable material such, for example, as by the wax 36, the ends-of thelegs of the'core only projecting from the casing.

Casing members 33 and 34 together form mounting lips on tabs 31 and 38. Tab 31 is provided with an aperture 33 for receiving a screw 40 which iszemployed-to secure the stator 3|] to bracket 23, the bracket being provided with a suitable threaded aperture for receiving screw 40.

Tab 31 is also provided with a threaded aperture 4l for receiving the terminal screw 42, one end of coil 32, not shown, being soldered or otherwise electrically-secured to either of casing members 33, 34 and 35 thereby to connect this end of the coiltoterminal screw 42. The other end of coil 32 is soldered or otherwise electrically secured to a terminal screw 43, which is secured to casing member 33 as by the nuts 44, and insulated therefrom by the insulation bushing 45 and washer 445'; Figure 10.

Tab 38 is provided with a pair of apertures 41 for. receiving screws 48by means of which stator 3U' issecured to a V-shaped mounting bracket 49 therefor, its mounting bracket having threaded apertures 50' for receiving screws 48.

Ther space betweenv the legs of bracket 49 is formed to receive the rounded head of bolt i6 and the ends of the legs are formed arcuately as at I tov conform to the surface of axle housing at the juncture thereof, with retainer 24 whereby the bracket is rigidly secured to the truck when the mounting screws 52 therefor are drawnup tight', screws 52 being received in apertures- 53, formed" therefor in bracket 49 and threadedly receivedin suitable threaded aperturesprovideditherefor in the axle housing 25.

When stator 3U is mounted in position on the skate truck in the foregoing-manner, the ends of the E-shaped core extend adjacent to a plurality of permanentmagnets' 54 which are carried by the left wheel 29, and together with` this. wheel magnets being inserted in equi-spaced apertures or slots 56 provided therefor in the wheel and arranged concentrically with respect thereto, whereby the magnets are disposed opposite the ends of the legs of the E-shaped core, as may best be seen in Figure 2. The smallest possible air gap 51, consistent with avoiding physical engagement between the magnets and the core as the magnets rotate with the supporting wheel therefor, preferably is provided between the adjacent ends of the magnets and core in order to reduce the reluctance in the magnetic circuit, thereby to increase the energy output of the magneto. To this end, a washer 58, of magnetic material iscemented or otherwise secured to the other ends of the magnets, thus completing the magnetic circuit between the magnets which are arranged circumferentially about wheel 23, individual thereto with alternating magnetic polaritiestherebyto conform to the alternating magnetic polarities of the ends ofthe E-shaped core due to the coil being mounted on the center leg thereof.

By reason ofthe foregoing construction and arrangement'. of the stator 30 and rotor 55, a lamp 59 connectedzto terminal screws 42 and 43 as by conductors 60 and 6l is lighted when rotor 55 is twirledbet'ween the fingers, for example, the lamp being broughtup to a bright light when the rotor I9 is rotated at arate` corresponding to the speed of rotation imparted'thereto when a skater, having the magneto mounted on one of his skates, is merely moving at a moderately low speed.

The lamp may be mounted to the brace I8 as by the conventional V-shaped clamp 62 or may be attached to some portion of the skaters apparel, if desired, or` in some'cases therefrom to the other skate, with or'without' one or more colored lights, all in accordance with the specific ornamentation effects desired. in a given performance.

In view of the foregoing, it should now be apparent that a skate light magneto has been provided which is well adapted to fulfill the aforestated objects of the invention, and whereas but one example of the invention has been disclosed whichl gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that additional examples mayv be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A roller skate light magneto-comprising a, rotor including a plurality of permanent magnets arranged on one of the Wheels of the roller skate concentrically thereof for rotation therewith, a stator comprising an E-shaped core and a coil sleeved on the center leg' of thecore, and means for securing the assembly of said core and coil to the truck of the roller skate so that the ends of the legs of the core are concentricallyl disposed with respect to the axis of said one ofthe wheels and are disposed opposite any three adjacent ones of said plurality of magnets in succession as the wheel rotates..

2. A roller skateV light magneto comprising a rotor, which includes one ofthe wheelsV of the roller skate and at lease one: permanent magnet, carried thereby for rotation therewith, a stator secured to the truckfor` said one; of the wheels and-including acoila-ndgcore therefor-so arranged With respectto saidmagnet as to generate a voltage in the coil by magneticinductionfof the magnetic fieldY ofthe magnet4 as said one of the-wheels means connected to said coil and controlled by said voltage induced therein.

3. A roller skate light magneto comprising a rotor, which includes one of the Wheels of the roller skate and at least one permanent magnet carried thereby for rotation therewith, a stator mounted on the truck for said one of the Wheels and including a core and a coil thereon arranged in magnetic energy transferring relations with respect to the eld of said magnet, and an electric light connected to said coil and adapted to be energized by the electrical energy induced therein as said one of the wheels rotates.

4. A roller skate light magento comprising, in combination, a rotor including one of the Wheels of the roller skate, a plurality of permanent magnets arranged on said one of the Wheels parallel to and concentric with the axis thereof, a magnetic circuit closing Washer secured to said magnets in abutting engagement with the ends thereof disposed adjacent the outer face of said one of the Wheels, a stator comprising a laminated E-shaped core, a coil sleeved on the center leg of said core, a nonmagnetic casing for said core and coil, and a quantity of potting material in the casing for mounting the assembly of said core and coil in predetermined position in the casing With the ends of the legs of the core projecting therefrom, said core and casing therefor being shaped arcuately to conform to the truck for said one of the Wheels whereby said ends of the core are positioned opposite the ends of the magneto, adjacent the inner force of said one of the wheels when the stator is mounted on the truck, and means for securing the stator to the truck with said opposing core and magnet ends arranged with a predetermined air gap therebetween.

5. A roller skate light magneto comprising a stator secured to one of the trucks of the roller skate and including a laminated core extended parallel to the wheel axis of the truck and a coil sleeved on the core, a rotor including a skate wheel on said truck and a permanent magnet carried by the wheel in magnetic energy transfer relation With respect to said coil by magnetic induction of the eld of the magnet as the wheel rotates, an electric light, and a pair of flexible conductors connecting the light with the coil whereby the light is energized by said voltage induced in the coil.

6. Roller skate exhibition apparatus comprising a skate having a Wheel supported truck, a magnetic eld generating rotor including one of the supporting Wheels for the truck, a voltage generating stator rigidly secured to said truck in magnetic energy transferring relation with respect to the eld of said rotor, and electroresponsive ornamentation means including a plurality of conductors for connecting said ornamentation means to said stator so as to be energized by the voltage induced therein as said one of the wheels rotates.

7. Roller skate exhibiting apparatus comprising, in combination, a foot plate, a truck supporting base secured to said foot plate, a headed pivot bolt secured to said base, a truck supported by said pivot bolt, said truck having a Wheel axle housing, a cushion retainer pivoted on said bolt and secured to said axle housing, a truck supporting bracket secured on one end to the axle housing and pivotally secured on the other end thereof to said base, a pair of Wheels rotatively supported on said axle housing, a stator including a nonmagnetic casing having an open end, an E-shaped laminated core, a coil sleeved on the center of said core, a quantity of potting material for positioning said core and coil in said casing with the ends of the legs of the core projecting outwardly of said opening in the casing, a stator mounting bracket secured to said axle housing in interitting relation with respect to the head of said pivot bolt, said casing having a tab secured to said stator mounting bracket, said casing having a second tab secured to said truck supporting bracket, said casing and core being arcuately formed to conform to the configuration of said truck whereby the legs of the core extend parallel to the truck wheel axis and said projected ends thereof extend into face adjacency with one of said pair of truck Wheels concentrically therewith, a plurality of permanent magnets arranged on said one of the wheels in predetermined spaced opposing relation to said core ends, a magnetic circuit closing Washer secured to the other ends of the magnets in abutting engagement therewith, an electric light, a pair of terminals secured to said casing, one of said terminals and one end of said coil being electrically connected to said casing, means for insulating the other one of said terminals from the casing, the other end of the coil being connected to said insulated terminal, and a pair of flexible conductors for connecting said light to said terminals.

LEONARD E. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Fritzinger July 19, 1949 Number 

